Image display apparatus which both receives video information and outputs information about itself

ABSTRACT

An image display apparatus capable of adjusting a display picture by an input unit through a computer body is disclosed. When the user inputs a control instruction for adjusting the display picture of the display unit by the input unit connected to the computer body, a control signal addition circuit prepares a control signal Sc corresponding to the control instruction and adds the control signal to a video signal R, G or B or a synchronizing signal Hs or Vs produced by a display control circuit during a vertical retrace period. A control signal separation circuit separates the added control signal Sc from the video signal R, G or B or the synchronizing signal Hs or Vs produced by the control signal addition circuit. A display control circuit produces adjustment signals Sa and Sb on the basis of the control signal from the control signal separation circuit to adjust a video circuit and a deflection circuit. Thus, the user can adjust the display picture by the input unit near at hand without extending the hands to adjustment switches of the display unit.

This application is a divisional of U.S. Application Ser. No.08/013,810, filed Feb. 2, 1993, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,457,473.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an image display apparatus including aninput unit such as a keyboard, a computer body and a display unit, andmore particularly to an image display apparatus in which a display size,a display position and brightness of a picture in the display unit canbe adjusted by the input unit such as the keyboard through the computerbody to improve the handling capability. The image display apparatus ofthe present invention can be used in a work station and an advancedpersonal computer using a display unit.

At present, in the display units for a computer terminal, the displayposition and size of the picture and a deflection frequency of a videosignal to be displayed are variously different. Accordingly, one displayunit for the computer terminal is designed to be able to treat variousvideo signals.

The display unit of this type employs a microcomputer and an LSI memoryto provide an optimum picture display for each kind of video signals.Such a display unit in a prior art is disclosed in Japanese PatentUnexamined Publication No. 1-321475, for example.

This conventional display unit is directed to a multi-scan type CRTdisplay unit, which includes a memory in which information relative todisplay positions and sizes of the picture is stored for each kind ofvideo signals and which is controlled by a microcomputer in that displayunit. The information relative to the optimum display position and sizeof the picture in accordance with an input video signal is read out fromthe memory and a deflection circuit of the display unit is controlled bythe read-out information. Further, when a video signal inputted in thedisplay unit is not known, the memory stores no information relative tothe inputted video signal and accordingly adjustment switches disposedon a front panel of the display unit are operated without theintervention of the computer so that information for adjusting thedisplay position and the display size of the picture is inputted. Acontrol circuit such as the microcomputer prepares information forcontrol including deflection and makes adjustment.

In the prior art described above, the display unit is designed to obtainthe optimum picture display in accordance with the input video signal,while, in another prior art, a display state is controlled to beswitched from the computer body in accordance with the variety of themulti-media. Such a display unit in the prior art is disclosed inJapanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. 2-60193.

This conventional display unit is directed to a CRT display apparatusused in display of an electronic apparatus such as a personal computerand which can switch the number of scanning lines between 200 lines and400 lines freely and be shared by a television receiver.

More particularly, in the above prior art, the computer body produces adiscrimination signal super-posed on an video signal during a blankingperiod and the display unit switches the deflection frequency on thebasis of the discrimination signal.

In the former prior art (Publication No. 1-321475) of the above twoprior arts, since the display position and size of the picture are allcontrolled by the display unit, it is necessary for the operator toseparate his fingers from the input unit such as the keyboard connectedto the computer body and extend his hands to the adjustment switches ofthe display unit disposed at a separate location to operate the switcheswhen the adjustment of the display position and size of the picture arerequired. Accordingly, it is troublesome in the handling capability.

Further, in the latter prior art (Publication No. 2-60193), the displaystate is controlled by the input unit such as the keyboard connected tothe computer body, while since only the deflection frequency can beswitched only by a binary value, there is a problem that only twospecific signals can be treated and a sufficient display state requiredby the user of the computer can not be obtained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the present invention to solve the problems inthe prior arts by providing an image display apparatus capable ofadjusting a display picture by an input unit such as a keyboard near athand through a computer body without extending the hands to adjustmentswitches of a display unit and obtaining a display state required by theuser exactly.

It is another object of the present invention to improve the operabilityin a computer system and the handling capability of the image displayapparatus.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an imagedisplay apparatus capable of adjusting a display picture from a computerbody by using a conventional circuit without the provision of a newcircuit.

In order to solve the above problems, according to the presentinvention, in a general computer system, a computer body comprisesaddition means for adding a control signal for a display picture to avideo signal or a synchronizing signal and a display unit comprisesseparation means for separating the added control signal and controlmeans for adjusting the display state on the basis of the separatedcontrol signal.

Alternatively, the computer body comprises preparation means forpreparing the control signal to produce it with a predetermined systemand the display unit comprises control means for receiving the controlsignal to adjust the display state on the basis of the control signal.

Alternatively, the computer body comprises display processing means forproducing the prepared image data and the control signal for the displaypicture in the form of a digital signal to the display unit and thedisplay unit comprises control means for preparing an analog videosignal and synchronizing signal from the image data and producing anadjustment signal for adjusting a predetermined location of the displayunit on the basis of the control signal.

Alternatively, the computer body comprises modulation means for addingthe control signal for the display picture to an AC power supply foroperating the computer body and the display unit comprises demodulationmeans for separating the modulated control signal and control means foradjusting an internal circuit of the display unit by the control signalfrom the demodulation means to obtain a predetermined display picture.

Further alternatively, the control signal from the input unit such asthe keyboard is received by the display unit as it is and the displayunit comprises instruction identification means for identifying thecontrol signal relative to the adjustment of the display picture andcontrol means for adjusting the display picture on the basis of a signalfrom the instruction identification means.

The addition means of the computer body adds the control, signal for thedisplay unit to the video signal or the synchronizing signal produced bythe computer body when the instruction inputted by the input unit suchas the keyboard relates to the adjustment of the display picture of thedisplay unit. In the display unit, the separation means takes out theadded control signal and the control means adjusts the internal circuitof the display unit in accordance with the control signal to therebydisplay a predetermined picture.

Alternatively, the preparation means prepares a control signal inaccordance with the control signal for the display picture from theinput unit such as the keyboard and produces it through an exclusiveconnection line, and when the control means of the display unit receivesthe control signal, the control means adjusts a predetermined portion ofthe internal circuit of the display unit in accordance with the controlsignal and adjusts the display picture.

Alternatively, the display processing means processes a drawinginstruction prepared by a CPU in the computer body to prepare image datafor displaying a video signal and prepare a control signal for thedisplay picture, so that the image data and the control signal areproduced to the display unit with a predetermined system fortransmission and reception of a digital signal. Further, the controlmeans receives the image data and the control signal from the displayprocessing means and prepares the video signal, the synchronizing signaland the adjustment signal for the internal circuit of the display unit.

Alternatively, the modulation means prepares the control signal for thedisplay picture from the information or instruction relative to theadjustment of the display picture and adds the control signal to the ACpower supply for the computer body to transmit the control signal. Thedemodulation means extracts the control signal added by the modulationmeans. The control means adjusts a predetermined portion of the internalcircuit of the display unit on the basis of the control signal from thedemodulation means to adjust the display picture.

Further alternatively, the instruction identification means identifies asignal relative to the adjustment of the display picture from signalsdirectly inputted by the input unit such as the keyboard to prepares thecontrol signal for adjustment. The control means adjusts thepredetermined portion of the internal circuit of the display unit inaccordance with the control signal from the instruction identificationmeans to adjust the display picture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a first embodimentof an image display apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an actual exampleof a control signal addition circuit and a display control circuit shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram of signals of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an actual exampleof a control signal separation circuit and the display control circuitshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram of signals of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating another actualexample of the control signal addition circuit and the display controlcircuit shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a second embodimentof an image display apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a third embodimentof an image display apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a fourth embodimentof an image display apparatus according to the present invention; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a fifth embodimentof an image display apparatus according to the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a first embodimentof an image display apparatus according to the present invention. InFIG. 1, numeral 1a denotes a computer body, in which numeral 11 a CPU,12 an input unit interface connected to the computer body 1a forprocessing various instruction signals inputted from a first input unit10 (which transmits a user's intention to the computer) such as akeyboard, a mouse, a pen for input, 13 a memory circuit constituting amain memory, 14 an input/output port for connection with a peripheraldevice not shown, 15 a display control circuit for producing a videosignal and a synchronizing signal for driving a display unit, 16 acontrol signal addition circuit for superposing or adding a controlsignal to the video signal or the synchronizing signal produced by thedisplay control circuit 15, and 17 an external memory constituted by afloppy disk, a hard disk or a memory card which is disposed separatelyfrom the memory circuit 13. Further, numeral 1b denotes a display unit,in which numeral 18 denotes a control signal separation circuit forextracting the control signal from the video signal or the synchronizingsignal on which the control signal produced by the control signaladdition circuit 16 is superposed, 19 a first display control circuitfor producing an adjustment signal for a predetermined circuit on thebasis of the control signal extracted by the control signal separationcircuit 18, 20 a video circuit, 21 a deflection circuit constitutingdisplay drive means, and 22 a cathode ray tube for displaying a videosignal.

Operation of FIG. 1 is now described. In the computer body 1a, otherportions except the control signal addition circuit 16 are the same asthe general configuration of a conventional personal computer or workstation.

When the user of the computer inputs a control instruction foradjustment of the display picture in the display unit 1b by means of afirst input unit 10 such as a keyboard, a mouse, a pen for inputconnected to the computer body 1a, the input unit interface 12 convertsthe control instruction into a digital signal, which is recognized bythe CPU 11 which controls the control signal addition circuit 16.

The control signal addition circuit 16 prepares a control signal Sc inaccordance with the control instruction. The control signal Sc for thedisplay unit 1b is superposed during the vertical retrace period on thevideo signal R, G or B or the synchronizing signal for display producedby the display control circuit 15. The signal on which the controlsignal Sc is superposed is represented with the prime ('). The controlsignal Sc is prepared in accordance with the control instructioninputted in the input unit 10.

The control signal separation circuit 18 of the display unit 1bseparates the added control signal Sc from the video signal R, G or B orthe synchronizing signal Hs or Vs produced by the control signaladdition circuit 16 to supply it the first display control circuit 19and supplies the video signals R, G and B to the video circuit 20 andthe synchronizing signals Hs and Vs to the deflection circuit 21,respectively.

The first display control circuit 19 produces adjustment signals Sa andSb for the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21 on the basisof the inputted control signal Sc, respectively, and supplies thesignals Sa and Sb to the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21,respectively, to adjust them.

In this way, the display picture is adjusted, so that the user's desiredpicture is displayed in the cathode ray tube 22.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically illustrating an actual exampleof the control signal addition circuit 16 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 is awaveform diagram illustrating waveforms of signals in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, numeral 161 denotes an address decoder, 162 a data latchcircuit, 163 an edge detection circuit for detecting an edge of a pulse,164 a shift register circuit, 165 and 170 AND circuits, 166 a levelconversion circuit for converting a level of a signal, 167 an analogswitch, 168 a counter circuit for counting 17 clock pulses, and 169 aset and reset type flip-flop circuit (hereinafter, referred to as anRSFF circuit).

Operation of FIG. 2 is now described.

As described above, when the user of the computer inputs the controlinstruction for adjustment of the display picture of the display unit 1bby means of the input unit 10 connected to the computer 1a, the inputunit interface 12 supplies the control instruction to the CPU 11 througha computer bus BUS. Then, the CPU 11 recognizes the control instructionand supplies a control data CD to the control signal addition circuit 16through the computer bus BUS.

The address decoder 161 supplies the control data CD to the data latchcircuit 162 when the control data supplied to the decoder is a controldata for adjusting the display picture of the display unit 1b. Then, theedge detection circuit 163 detects a leading edge of the verticalsynchronizing signal Vs by means of the horizontal synchronizing signalHs and supplies the edge detection pulse Pe to the shift registercircuit 164, the counter circuit 168 and the RSFF circuit 169.

The counter circuit 168 is supplied with the edge detection pulse Pe asa reset signal and with the horizontal synchronizing signal Hs as aclock signal and starts its counting operation in response to the risingedge of the clock signal. When the counter circuit 168 counts 17 clocksafter input of the reset signal, the counter circuit produces a carryoutput signal Sca which is supplied to a reset input terminal of theRSFF circuit 169. Thus, the RSFF circuit 169 produces a V gate pulse Pvas shown in FIG. 3. The control signal Sc for the display unit 1b issuperposed during a high level period T_(H) of the V gate pulse Pv.

On the other hand, the shift register circuit 164 reads the control dataC_(D) held in the data latch circuit 162 in response to the edgedetection pulse Pe supplied from the edge detection circuit 163. Theshift register circuit 164 performs the shift operation in response tothe clock signal constituted by the horizontal synchronizing signal Hsproduced from the AND circuit 170 during the high level period T_(H) ofthe V gate pulse to produce the control data C_(D) ' shown in FIG. 3.

Further, the control data C_(D) ' is supplied to the AND circuit 165which produces a logical product of the control data C_(D) ' and thehorizontal synchronizing signal Hs. The output signal of the AND circuitis converted into a video signal level by the level conversion circuit166 to be supplied to the switch circuit 167. Other input of the switchcircuit 167 is supplied with a B (blue) video signal directly withoutbeing processed, and the switch circuit 167 selects the output of thelevel conversion circuit 166 during the high level period T_(H) and theB video signal during other low level period T_(L) by using the V gatepulse Pv as a change-over control signal for the switch to be able toobtain a B' video signal on which the control signal is added as shownin FIG. 3. in the embodiment, the control signal Sc is added to the Bvideo signal having a low visual sensitivity of color, while the controlsignal may be added to other R (red) or G (green) visual signal or thesynchronizing signal Hs or Vs.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a first embodimentof the control signal separation circuit 18 and the first displaycontrol circuit 19 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram showingwaveforms of signals in FIG. 4.

In FIG. 4, numeral 401 denotes a distributer, 402 a low pass filter(hereinafter referred to as an LPF), 403 a level conversion circuit, 404and 405 buffers, 406 a divide-by-17 counter or 17-step counter, 407 anRSFF circuit, 408 and 409 AND circuits, 410 an inverter, 411 a 16-stageshift register, 412 a decoder circuit, 413 a D/A conversion circuit(hereinafter referred to as a D/AC), and 414 an edge detection circuit.

Operation of FIG. 4 is now described with reference to FIG. 5.

The B' video signal from the control signal addition circuit 16 issupplied to the distributer 401 which divides the video signal into twosignals, one of which is supplied to the video circuit 20 shown in FIG.1 together with other video signals R and G and the other of which issupplied to the LPF 402. With the B' video signal supplied to the LPF402, an unnecessary frequency component such as noise contained in theB' video signal is removed in the LPF 402 and the B' video signal isthen converted into a digital signal level in the level conversioncircuit 403.

Further, the vertical synchronizing signal Vs is supplied through thebuffer 404 to the edge detection circuit 414, in which the leading edgethereof is detected and is supplied to the 17-step counter 406, the RSFFcircuit 407 and the 16-stage shift register 411 as an edge detectionpulse 418 shown in FIG. 5.

When the 17-step counter circuit 406 is reset by the edge detectionpulse 418, the 17-step counter circuit 406 starts its counting operationfor the horizontal synchronizing signal Hs supplied through the buffer405 as a clock signal. Thus, when rising edges of 17 clocks are counted,the counter circuit produces a 17-clock detection pulse. The RSFFcircuit 407 is set by the edge detection pulse 418 and reset by the17-clock detection pulse to produce the V gate pulse 419 shown in FIG.5.

The AND circuit 408 takes a logical product of an output signal of thelevel conversion circuit 403 and the V gate pulse of the RSFF circuit407 to extract the control signal 420 added to the B' video signal.Further, the other AND circuit 409 takes a logical product of the V gatepulse and the horizontal synchronizing signal Hs produced by the buffer405 and inverted by the inverter 410 to produce a clock signal for the16-stage shift register 411 and the D/AC (D/A Converter) 413.

The 16-stage shift register 411 is reset by the edge detection pulse 418to clear the held contents thereof and successively holds the controlsignal 420 in response to the clock signal from the AND circuit 409. Thedecoder circuit 412 decodes four held values at the first, second,fifteenth and sixteenth stages of the 16-stage shift register 411, andwhen the decoder circuit detects the start bit and the stop bit in thecontrol signal 420, the decoder circuit produces a load pulse 422 forthe D/AC 413. Further, the output signal from the second-stage of theshift register 411 is used as a serial data 421 of the D/AC 413 shown inFIG. 5.

The D/AC 413, which is a serial input and multi-channel D/A converter,selects any of a plurality of D/A converters included therein inaccordance with D/AC control address in the serial data 421 shown inFIG. 5 and updates the D/A converted output value in accordance with avalue of the control data portion. At this time, the serial data 421 issuccessively taken in the D/AC 413 in synchronism with the clock signalfrom the AND circuit 409 and is settled by the rising edge (UP) of theload pulse from the decoder 412.

Thus, the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21 shown in FIG. 1can be adjusted by an adjustment voltage or current produced from theD/AC 413 as an adjustment signal.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a second actualexample of the control signal separation circuit 18 and the displaycontrol circuit 19 of FIG. 1. In FIG. 6, numeral 601 denotes a selector,602 a one-chip microcomputer, and 603 a writable read-only memory(hereinafter referred to as EEPROM (Electric Erasable Programmable ReadOnly Memory)). Other elements having the same number as in FIG. 4 havethe same function.

Operation of FIG. 6 is now described.

The operation that the control signal Sc added to the B' video signal isseparated by the AND circuit 408 and the clock signal for writing of theshift register 411 is prepared by the AND circuit 409 is quite the sameoperation as that of FIG. 4. In the second example, the microcomputer602 is used to process the control signal to the display unit 1b sentfrom the computer body 1a shown in FIG. 1.

First of all, usually, the microcomputer 602 controls the selector 601to select the clock signal for writing from the AND circuit 409 andwrite the control signal in the shift register circuit 411. At thistime, the edge detection pulse from the edge detection circuit 414 issupplied to the microcomputer 602 as an interrupt signal 418 and after apredetermined time the microcomputer 602 controls the selector 601 by aselector control signal Ss to select the clock signal S_(CL) for readingfrom the microcomputer 602.

The control signal held in the shift register circuit 411 issuccessively read out in response to the clock signal S_(CL) for readingfrom the microcomputer 602 and is supplied to the microcomputer 602.When the signal supplied to the microcomputer is the correct controlsignal, the microcomputer 602 produces the control data to supply it tothe D/AC 413 to thereby adjust a predetermined circuit in the displayunit 1b. Further, the control data is also written in the EEPROM 603.Thus, when the display unit 1b is next turned on, the control data isread out from the EEPROM 603 to perform the predetermined adjustment.

Further, in the second example, by previously storing the control datain the EEPROM 603, a necessary control data can be read out inaccordance with the control signal S_(c) from the computer body 1a.Accordingly, the control information for the display unit 1b can bepreviously programmed in the software for operating the computer body inaddition to the control information from the input unit 10, so that apredetermined adjustment can be made for each software.

As described above, in the first embodiment of the present invention,the control signal is added to the video signal or the synchronizingsignal during the vertical retrace period, wileilc a DC level itself ofthe video signal can be used as the control signal. In this case, thecontrol signal separation circuit 18 may reproduce the DC level of thevideo signal and adjust the predetermined circuit of the display unit 1bin accordance with a voltage value of the DC level. Further, in thefirst embodiment, the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21 ofthe display unit 1b are adjusted, while a high-voltage circuit portioncan be naturally controlled to adjust the focus or the like.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a second embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 7, numeral 1c denotes a computer bodydifferent from the computer body shown in FIG. 1 and in the computerbody 1c, numeral 70 denotes a control signal preparation circuit.Further, numeral 1d denotes a display unit different from the displayunit shown in FIG. 1 and in the display unit 1d, numeral 71 denotes asecond display control circuit different from the first display controlcircuit 19 shown in FIG. 1. Other elements designated by the samenumerals as those of FIG. 1 have the same function as that of theelements of FIG. 1.

Operation of FIG. 7 is now described briefly.

In FIG. 7, the video signal and the synchronizing signal are produced bythe display control circuit 15 in the same manner as in a generalpersonal computer or work station.

When the user of the computer inputs the control instruction foradjusting the display picture of the display unit 1d by means of theinput unit 10 connected to the computer body 1c, the control instructionis sent to the control signal preparation circuit 70 through the inputunit interface 12, the CPU 11 and the computer bus BUS.

The control signal preparation circuit 70 holds the control instructionand prepares the control signal corresponding to the control instructionto produce it to the display unit 1d at a proper timing. An outputsystem of the control signal at this time can use an existing interfacesuch as, for example, RS-232C, GP-IB and SCSI. Accordingly, the controlsignal preparation circuit 70 includes the interface circuit.

The second display control circuit 71 of the display unit id receivesthe control signal produced by the control signal preparation circuit 70through the same interface circuit as that included in the controlsignal preparation circuit 70 and produces the adjustment voltage orcurrent for the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21 as theadjustment signal on the basis of the received control signal to adjustthe video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21.

In the second embodiment of the present invention, since the controlsignal is transmitted and received by means of the general-purposeinterface, bi-directional communication between the display unit 1d andthe computer body 1c can be made. Accordingly, the computer body canrecognize whether the display unit 1d has received the control signalexactly or not, how the control state of the display unit 1d at thecurrent time is or whether the display unit 1d is exactly operated ornot.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a third embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 8, numeral 1e represents a computerbody different from that of FIGS. 1 and 7 and in the computer body 1e,numeral 81 represents a display processing circuit for preparing animage data for a display image, and 82 an interface circuit. Numeral 1frepresents a display unit different from that of FIGS. 1 and 7, 83 aninterface circuit, and 84 a display controller for preparing varioussignals for driving the display unit 1f. The interface circuits(hereinafter referred to as an I/F circuit) 82 and 83 serve to transmitand receive signals between the display processing circuit 81 in thecomputer body 1e and the display controller 84 in the display unit 1f.Other elements having the same numerals as those of FIGS. 1 and 7 havethe same function.

Operation of FIG. 8 is now described.

An image processing instruction issued by the CPU 11 is supplied to thedisplay processing circuit 81 through the computer bus BUS. The displayprocessing circuit 81 receives the image processing instruction andprepares the image data for the display image.

At this time, when the user of the computer inputs the controlinstruction for adjusting the display picture of the display unit 1f bymeans of the input unit 10 connected to the computer body 1e, thecontrol instruction is sent to the display processing circuit 81 throughthe input unit interface 12, the CPU 11 and the computer bus. When thedisplay processing circuit 81 receives the control instruction, thedisplay processing circuit 81 prepares the control signal in apredetermined location other than the image data area.

The image data and the control signal thus prepared are sent to thedisplay unit if through the I/F circuit 82 as the image information inaccordance with a predetermined interface specification, for example,the SCSI standards having a large transfer rate.

In the display unit 1f, the I/F circuit 83 receives the imageinformation from the I/F circuit 82 and supplies the image informationto the display controller 84 successively. The display controller 84writes the received image information into an internal memorysuccessively and prepares the video signals for R, G and B and thesynchronizing signal from the image data portion of the written imageinformation. Further, when the control signal is present in the imageinformation, the adjustment voltage or current as the adjustment signalsSa' and Sb' for the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21 isproduced to adjust the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21.

In addition, when the image information written in the internal memoryof the display controller 84 is not updated within a predetermined time,the display controller 84 controls the video circuit 20 to minimize anamplitude level of the video signal, so that the brightness of thecathode ray tube 22 is reduced to prevent burning of the cathode raytube 22.

Even in the third embodiment of the present invention, since theinterfaces between the computer body 1e and the display unit 1f have thecapability for bidirectional communication, not only the image data andthe control signal can be transmitted from the computer body 1e but alsoa display signal unit Sdu for reception confirmation and a report signalfor operation situation can be transmitted from the display unit 1f.Further, since the computer body 1e is connected to the display unit 1fthrough a single bi-directional interface cable 85, the complexity ofthe connection can be solved.

FIG. 9 is a block diagram schematically illustrating a fourth embodimentof the present invention. In FIG. 9, numeral 1g represents a computerbody different from that of FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, and in the computer body1g , numeral 91 represents a modulation circuit. Numeral 1h represents adisplay unit different from that of FIGS. 1, 7 and 8, and in the displayunit 1h, numeral 92 represents a display control circuit, 93 ademodulation circuit, and 94 and 95 power plugs. Other elements havingthe same numerals as those of FIG. 1 have the same function.

Operation of FIG. 9 is now described.

When the user of the computer inputs the control instruction foradjusting the display picture of the display unit 1h by means of theinput unit 10 connected to the computer body 1g, the control instructionis supplied to the CPU 11 through the input unit interface 12. The CPU11 processes the control instruction and supplies the control signalcorresponding to the control instruction to the modulation circuit 91through the computer bus BUS. The modulation circuit 91 modulates thereceived control signal and superposes it to the AC power to transmitthe signal from the power plug 94 through a power line PL to the displayunit 1h.

In the display unit 1h, when the AC power is supplied from the powerplug 95 through the power line PL, the demodulation circuit 93demodulates the modulated control signal superposed on the AC power toreproduce the original control signal. The reproduced control signal issupplied to the display control circuit 92. The display control circuit92 produces the adjustment voltage or current as the adjustment signalsSa and Sb for the video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21 inaccordance with the contents of the control signal to adjust the videocircuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21.

In this manner, in the embodiment, since the control signal istransmitted to the display unit 1h through the power line PL, thedisplay unit 1h can be controlled without increased signal line for thecontrol signal.

FIG. 10 schematically illustrates a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention. The fifth embodiment is now described briefly. In FIG. 10,numeral 1 represents a computer body constituted by a general personalcomputer or work station, 1j a display unit different from that of thepreceding embodiments, 101 a second input unit such as a keyboard, amouse, or a pen for unit connected to the computer body 1 and thedisplay unit 1j, 102 a command identification circuit in the displayunit, and 103 a third display control circuit. Other elements having thesame numerals as those of FIG. 1 have the same function.

In FIG. 10, when the user of the computer operates the second input unit101, an input signal such as the control instruction is inputted to thecomputer body 1 and the display unit 1j. The input signal inputted tothe display unit 1j is processed by the command identification circuit102 and is taken out as the display control signal when the input signalis an instruction relative to the display control. The third displaycontrol circuit 103 makes control relative to the display operation bythe control voltage or current with respect to the associated portion ofthe video circuit 20 and the deflection circuit 21 on the basis of thedisplay control signal. In the embodiment of FIG. 10, since the computerbody does not prepare the control signal for the display, there is noburden bearing upon the CPU of the computer. In this manner, the user ofthe computer can control the display unit by means of the second inputunit without direct contact to the display unit. The signal lineconnected from the second input unit 101 to the display unit 1j may usethe signal lines connected to the computer body 1 as they are or may bean exclusive signal line for transmitting only the display controlsignal. For the former case, the input unit such as the general keyboardcan be utilized as it is. For the latter case, it is necessary to add aspecial input unit for display control to the second input unit.Further, a remote control circuit employing the infrared rays or thelike is used to reduce the number of connection lines between the secondinput unit 101 and the display unit 1j, so that the complexity due towiring can be reduced. In the fifth embodiment, an input unit such as amouse, a touch panel, a pen for input or the like can be naturally usedas the input means for the control instruction in addition to thekeyboard.

According to the present invention, the following effects are attained:

(1) The user of the computer can adjust the display picture by the inputunit such as the keyboard near at hand through the computer body withoutextending the hands to adjustment switches of the display unit.

(2) The user can obtain the necessary display state exactly.

(3) The operability in thie computer system and the handling capabilityof the display unit are improved.

(4) The individual user can adjust the display state of the imagedisplay apparatus in accordance with circumstances.

(5) The adjustment of the display picture can be attained with theminimum control hardware.

(6) Standard lines can be used without the provision of new lines.

(7) The complexity due to wiring can be avoided by using the remotecontrol circuit.

(8) It is possible to automatically adjust the optimum picture to bedisplayed on the display unit by adjusting the operation of software bymeans of the control program of a display integrated into theapplication program at the computer side, and accordingly it isunnecessary for the user to take care the adjustment of the display.

We claim:
 1. A computing system comprising:a computer which outputs (i)image data including a video signal portion and a synchronization signalportion, (ii) a first control signal that carries displayed image sizeand position, (iii) a second control signal which is generated by aprogram that is previously programmed for operating a computer body, andwhich receives a feedback signal; a display unit for receiving the imagedata and the first and second control signals from the computer and foroutputting a reception confirmation as the feedback signal whichindicates confirmation of receiving the first or second control signalfor communication to the computer, the display unit including:a videocircuit for receiving the vedio signal portion included in the imagedata; a driving circuit for receiving the synchronization signal portionincluded in the image data; a display device controlled by signals fromthe video and driving circuits to generate the displayed image; a memorywhich stores control data concerning display control, the memoryreceiving the second control signal and reading our correspondingcontrol data; a display controller which (i) receives image data and atleast the first control signal from the computer, (ii) supplies thevideo signals to the video circuit and the synchronization signals tothe driving circuit, (iii) controls the driving circuit to control atleast one of the size and position of the displayed image in accordancewith at least one of the first control signal from the computer and thestored control data which is read out from the memory, and (iv) suppliesthe reception confirmation feedback signal from the display unit to thecomputer; and a common bi-directional interface cable for carrying theimage data and the first and second control signals from the computer tothe display unit and for carrying the reception confirmation signal fromthe display unit to the computer.
 2. A computing system comprising:auser input device into which a user inputs instructions includinginstructions for adjusting a physical property of a currently displayedimage in accordance with user preferences; a computer which generatesfirst signals in accordance with the instructions for adjusting thedisplayed image and image data including video and synchronizationsignals and which receives and processes second signals from peripheraldevices; a display unit for receiving the image data and first signalsfrom the computer and for generating second signals about the displayunit for communication to the computer, the display unit including:avideo circuit for receiving the video signal portion of the image data;a driving circuit for receiving the synchronization signal portion ofthe image data; a display controlled by signals from the video anddriving circuits to generate a displayed image; and a disiplaycontroller which (i) receives the image data and first signals from thecomputer, (ii) separates the first signals, the video signals, and thesynchronization signals, (iii) supplies video signals to the videocircuit anid the synchronization signals to the driving circuit, (iv)controls the driving circuit in accordance with the first signal toadjust the physical property of the displayed image to conformn to theuser preferences, and (v) supplies the second signals about the displayunit to the computer; a bi-directional cable for carrying the image dataand first signals from the comnputer to the display unit and forcarrying the second signals about the display unit from the display unitto the computer.
 3. The computing system as set forth in claim 2 whereinthe physical properties of the currently displayed image include atleast one of size and position of the currently displayed image.
 4. Adisplay unit for inputting image data, which includes a video signalportion and a synchronization signal portion, from a computer, and fordisplaying an image in accordance with the image data on a screen, thedisplay unit comprising:an interface circuit which (1) inputs the imagedata, a first control signal which includes control informationcorresponding to displayed image size and position, and a second controlsignal which is generated by a program that was previously programmedfor operating a computer body with the computer, and (2) outputs areception confirmation signal which indicates confirmation of receivingthe first or second control signal as a feedback signal to the computer;a video circuit which is connected to the interface circuit and receivesthe video signal portion included in the image data from the interfacecircuit; a driving circuit which is connected to the interface circuitand receives the synchronization signal portion included in the imagedata from the interface circuit; a display device which is controlled bysignals from the video and drive circuits to generate the displayedimage; a memory in which control data is previously stored, the controldata concerning display control, the stored control data is read out bythe second control signal from the interface circuit; a displaycontroller which controls the driving circuit to control at least one ofthe size and position of the displayed image in accordance with at leastone of the first control signal from the computer and the control datawhich is read out from the memory; and, wherein said interface circuitcan be connected to the computer through a bi-directional interfacecable passing image data, the first and second control signal, and thereception confirmation signal, and communicates with the computerthrough the bi-directional interface cable.
 5. The display unitaccording to claim 4, wherein said first control signal is generatedbased on a command inputted in a user input device connected to thecomputer.
 6. The display unit according to claim 5, wherein said userinput device includes a keyboard.
 7. A display unit for inputting imagedata, including a video signal portion and a synchronization signalportion, from a computer, and for displaying an image in accordance withthe image data on a screen, the display unit comprising:an interfacecircuit which (1) inputs the image data, a first communication signalwhich includes a command to control a size and a position of thedisplayed image, and a second communication signal which is generated bya program which is previously programmed for operating a computer body,with the computer, and (2) outputs a third communication signal whichindicates confirmation of receiving the first or second communicationsignal as a feedback signal to the computer; a video circuit which isconnected to the interface circuit and receives the video signal portionincluded in the image data from the interface circuit; a driving circuitwhich is connected to the interface circuit and receives thesynchronization signal portion included in the image data from theinterface circuit; a display device which is controlled by signals fromthe video and drive circuits to generate the displayed image; a memoryin which control data is previously stored the control data concerningdisplay control, the stored control data is read out by the secondcommunication signal and from the interface circuit, a displaycontroller which controls the driving circuit to control at least one ofthe size and position of the displayed image in accordance with at leastone of the command included in the first communication signal from thecomputer and the control data which is read out from the memory; and,wherein said interface circuit can be connected to the computer througha common bi-directional interface cable passing image data, the firstand second communication signal, and the reception confirmation signal,and communicates with the computer through the bi-directional interfacecable.
 8. The display unit according to claim 7, wherein said firstcommunication signal is generated based on a command inputted in a userinput device connected to the computer.
 9. The display unit according toclaim 8, wherein said user input device includes a keyboard.
 10. Adisplay unit for inputting a video signal and a synchronization signalfrom a computer, and for displaying an image in accordance with thevideo signal and synchronization signal on a screen, the display unitcomprising:an interference circuit which (1) inputs the video signal andsynchronization signal and a control signal which is generated by aprogram that is previously for operating a computer body with thecomputer, and (2) outputs a reception confirmation signal whichindicatives confirmation of receiving the control signal as a feedbacksignal to the computer; a video circuit which is connected to theinterface circuit and receives the video signal from the interfacecircuit; a driving circuit which is connected to the interface circuitand receives the synchronization signal from the interface circuit; adisplay device which is controlled by signals from the video and drivecircuits to generate the displayed image; a memory which stores controldata concerning display control, the stored control data is read out bythe control signal from the interface circuit; wherein the displayedimage is adjusted in accordance with the control data which is read outfrom the memory; and, wherein said interface circuit is connected to thecomputer through a bi-directional interface cable passing image data,the first and second control signal, and the reception confirmationsignal, and communicates with the computer through the bi-directionalinterface cable.
 11. A display unit for inputting a video signal and asynchronization signal from a computer, and for displaying an image inaccordance with the video signal and synchronization signal on a screen,the display unit comprising:an interface circuit which (1) inputs thevideo signal and synchronization signal and a control signal which isgenerated by program that is previously programmed for operating acomputer body with the computer, and (2) outputs a receptionconfirmation signal which is indicates confirmation of receiving thecontrol signal as a feedback signal to the computer; and a memory whichstores control data concerning display control, the stored control datais read out by the control signal from the interface circuit; whereinthe displayed image is adjusted in accordance with the control datawhich is read out from the memory; and, wherein said interface circuitis connected to the computer through a bi-directional interface cablepassing image data, the control signal, and the reception confirmationsignal, and communicates with the computer through the bi-directionalinterface cable.